Waggin' Tales Pet Blog

As we gear up for colder weather, some of us operate woodstoves and fireplaces in our homes. We also often enjoy the warmth and coziness of flickering candlelight. Such warmth can also be destructive. National Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6 – 12, 2013. Thousands of pets die because of fire every year. Just as we plan for evacuations of our human family members in case of fire, we should also prepare to help the furry ones who share our homes.

Make sure you have smoke alarms in your home and that those alarms have working batteries in them.

Designate one person in the family to be responsible for each pet in the event of an emergency. For example, Dad is responsible for the dog, and Mom is responsible for the cat.

Alert firefighters to the fact you have pets living in your home. This can be done with a Pet Rescue Fire Safety Sticker in your window (see the end of this article on where to find these). Such decals stick to your front window, alert emergency crews that you have pets in the home (and how many and what kind), and tell firefighters to “rescue my pets!”

Keep outdoor pet houses and pens away from brushy areas. Fire departments warn people to clear dry brush away from homes -- that also applies to your pets. For example, if you have a doghouse or rabbit hutch, make sure it’s at least 20 feet away from any brush that could possibly become fire fuel. Doing this can provide you with time to go out and rescue your pet if a fire threatens your property.

Know their hiding places. During a fire, your pets will be terrified, and they’ll most likely run to the places they feel most safe. If you don’t know their common hideaways, you could run out of time to save your furry friend. One suggestion: find all the small areas and places you know to which your pet likes to get away (such as under the bed or in the laundry room closet), map them out on a piece of paper, and include that map in your fire escape plan.

Have a plan! All families should have an evacuation plan in case of fire; include your pets in that plan. An integral part of it should be keeping collars and leashes near doors so you or the firefighters can grab them quickly during a rescue.

Take your furry friend to the vet as soon as possible. Pets can suffer from serious smoke inhalation in just a short time and they may also have burns underneath their fur, feathers, or feet.